Make Art: Aili Wang, Artist at Home
Artist and teacher, Aili Wang, shares how she has continued her own creative work through the past year and provides some motivation to all artists to keep doing what they love.
Ever since I was young, I began my exciting journey as a creator. From attending art classes to attending art shows, my interest in this field has only grown stronger. I have focused on oil and acrylic painting in the past, but I primarily specialize in watercolor: the unpredictability and relaxed texture makes the medium more captivating and wonderful. I have always taken my inspiration from personal photographs of the landscape that I’m surrounded by. Natural scenery makes up the perfect subject matter for my art.
Although the arrival of the pandemic has had a large impact on our lives, I realized that it opened up a world full of possibilities that we could enjoy. It created more time for family, friends, and hobbies. Thinking about the positive aspects that came out of quarantine allowed me to motivate myself to fully immerse my time into doing what I love. The process of paining is an extraordinary moment where you can express yourself and your emotions with many strokes of color. As of now, I am working on a watercolor landscape of a duck pond close to my residence. Many memories take place at that pond, which makes the art hold more depth and personal value. I enjoy creating art that I can sympathize with, because it will hold a more meaningful story.
Most of my artwork includes very bright colors; it creates a vibrant scene that I wish my viewers could visit the place that I painted. But my landscape paintings are not just to show how a place physically looks. Instead, I try to emphasize the beauty and the peace of nature in an abstract fusion of light and visual depth. I have the opinion that artists take upon the responsibility of depicting the beauty and the peace of nature to help viewers relax and enjoy the natural world.
It’s definitely been hard on all artists during this time, especially when we are unable to attend workshops or long-awaited art festivals. Getting accustomed to zoom and virtual events might be difficult, but remember that this won’t last forever. Making art at home has its advantages too! Sitting down with a cup of coffee and comfortable clothes sets the mood for creating art. Motivation comes from a relaxed and positive mindset, so allow yourself to sink back and just do what you love.